DCHS Wins State Student Section Spirit Challenge
Photo courtesy of DCHS – Dade County High School students earned state-wide recognition by showcasing DCHS school spirit through a video challenge. This photo is from the winning video.
By LYDIA BERGLAR
News Editor
Through the talent of Dade County High School’s Digital Media classes and the enthusiasm of the student section, band, and cheerleaders, DCHS won Georgia High School Association’s 2023 Student Section of the Year Spirit Challenge.
Josh Hurst, digital media teacher, led juniors Lillian Baker and Halen Chaney who edited the video together clip by clip and submitted it to the contest. Hurst said, “They used footage shot on our Canon R6s cameras by Hype Video Crew (sophomore Tanner Miller, senior Kendal Emmett, junior Jerzee Crabtree, senior Andi Norwood), and a host of other students who used GoPros in the Student Section on Friday nights.”
Pictured here, the “Maroon Goons” received banners for their school spirit during DCHS’ 2024 senior night.
Passing out the durable GoPros to the student section in order to authentically capture the action and energy was a collective idea, explained Hurst. “I got them a few years ago for my level one students to use for their beginner class projects, and after our first hype video this year, the idea was floated around my level two/three class by Jenna Hurst and Claire Holmes. We had used them before, but only for specific shots. This year, we passed out one to each class, freshmen through seniors, at our first pep rally, and then again at the game. After the first game, the idea stuck, and we continued it throughout the year. The plan was to get more footage for the hype videos, but when I found out about the GHSA contest, it was like it was meant to be.”
During the DCHS Senior Night, the “Maroon Goons” student section received a trophy and banner for winning the challenge. Their video also played on the big screen at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta during the state football championship games.
Watch WDEF News 12’s “What’s Right With Our Schools” segment from February 5th (at tinyurl.com/wdefdchs) to hear Hurst and students talk about the project. Watch the full video on DCHS’ YouTube Channel at tinyurl.com/dchsmaroongoons.
